The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of ManBartlett, John Russell
History
The Progress of Ethnology: An Account of Recent Archaeological, Philological and Geographical Researches in Various Parts of the Globe, Tending to Elucidate the Physical History of Man
Bartlett, John Russell
Anthropology -- History; Ethnology -- History
The visit of Commodore Biddle to the bay of Yedo, has added nothing to
our knowledge of its shores. His polite dismissal, and the refusal of
the government to entertain any commercial relations with the Americans,
only add force to the injunction to captain Cooper the year before, not
to return, and shows more strongly that while the Japanese rulers are
determined to maintain their secluded policy, they wish to give no cause
for retaliatory measures on the part of their unwelcome visitors, and
mean to keep themselves as well informed as they can upon foreign
politics. The subject of foreign intercourse between the two great
nations of Eastern Asia and Europeans since it commenced three centuries
since, is an instructive one; and the general impression left upon the
mind of the candid reader, is that foreign nations have themselves
chiefly to thank for their present seclusion from those shores, and the
restrictions in their commerce. Rear-Admiral Cecille has also paid a
visit to some part of Japan, quite recently, but met with no success in
his endeavors to enter into negotiation.
The great object in view in making these attempts to improve the
intercourse with Japan, is to find new markets for western manufactures.
It is quite doubtful, however, whether the Japanese have many articles
suitable for foreign markets. Their lackered-ware is exceedingly
beautiful, but it would not be so prized when it became more common.
Copper and tea would form the basis of exports, and perhaps some silk
fabrics, but China furnishes now all that is wanted of them both, and
can do so to any extent. Until a taste for such foreign manufactures, as
woolens, cutlery, glass-ware, calicoes, &c., is created among them, and
they are willing to adapt their own products to the tastes of their
customers, it does not seem likely that a trade at all proportioned to
the estimated population and riches of the country, would soon be
established. The Japanese are afraid of the probable results of a more
extended intercourse, and deem it to be the safest course to run no
risks; and if they read the pages of their early intercourse with the
Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch, they must feel they would run many
serious risks by granting a trade. If the siogoun and his advisers could
be rightly informed, however, there are grounds for believing the
present policy would be considerably relaxed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account